SCHOOLS 



in 1644, had passed on to Merchant Taylors' 

 School, London, before going up ; another who 

 entered in 1660 had used Nottingham as a finish- 

 ing school after three years at Melton Mowbray 

 Grammar School. It is noticeable that both 

 day boys and boarders were sent up, and that 

 there was a much greater mixture of classes 

 then than now, alike in the school and in the 

 university : the school being free, and the univer- 

 sity by the aid of sizarships being more open to 

 the poor and much less expensive for them than 

 now. 



As usual a new head master was not long in 

 getting a new usher, and soon after Leake's 

 arrival we read in the Council Minutes : 



20 September 1 630," Monday. Mr. Lightfoote. 

 This companie are willinge to geve allowance that 

 Mr. Samuell Lightfoote, an Universitie man, att the 

 request of Mr. Leake, the Schoolemaister, and by the 

 approbacion of Mr. Coats and Mr. Goodwyn, minis- 

 ters, and others (whoe are well satisfyed of his suffi- 

 ciencie for thatt purpose) shalbe usher of the free- 

 schoole in the place of Mr. Burrowes, and shall lyke- 

 wise have and receave the usuall wages and benefitts 

 thereunto belonginge, in hope thatt thesaide Mr. Light- 

 foote will be carefull in the same place and hereafter 

 geve thatt content thatt shalbe well pleasinge to the 

 Companie, and the generall good of the wholl towne. 



2 June 1634, Monday. 47 About the King's Enter- 

 taynement on 4 Aug. 1634. Maister Lightefoote, the 

 usher of the freeschoole, beinge sent for, hath under- 

 taken to deliver a speeche to the Kinge and Queene 

 att theire cominge to Nottingham ; and hee to be 

 furnished with apparell accordingly. 



7 July 1 634,*' Monday. Maister [Samuell] Lighte- 

 foote to have 6, viz. *> from the Scholewardens, 

 and 2O/. from Maister Maior, to fynd him clothes and 

 other accooterments. 



The Council Minutes for the year, under date 

 2O June, show that Robert Parker, mayor, bor- 

 rowed of William Nix, alderman, 



200 to be ymployed by him for the intertaynement 

 of the Kinge and Queene's Majesties whoe came to 

 Nottingham 4 Aug. 1634 and stayed there 5 nights, 

 Whereof paied as folio weth . . . Item for Maister 

 Lightefoot's sute, cloake, halt, stockings, garters, showes, 

 and other accooterments, 8 6s. 



13 January 1 634-5," Tuesday. Maister Leeke. 

 This Companie are agreed that Maister Leeke, the 

 Schoolemaister, shall have 6 13*. \d. added to his 

 20 per ann : from the Schoolewardens, oute of the 

 rents and profitts of the Schoole ; and this addicion 

 to contynewe unto him duringe the pleasure of this 

 companie, in hope thatt by his paynes and good de- 

 servinge in his place, hee will indeavor by his care to 

 have the contynewance thereof to the good lykinge of 

 the Companie. 



That year ' John Cooke, a scholler of Cam- 

 bridge' and a native of Nottingham, had 401. 

 presented to him by the schoolwardens on the 

 authority of the council towards the expenses of 



46 Borough Rec. v, 144. 

 48 Ibid. 1 68. 



" Ibid. 165. 

 "Ibid. 171. 



taking his degree, he being 'a hopefull yonge 

 man.' Mr. Lightfoot proved inattentive to his 

 duties. On 19 September 1636 the Minutes of 

 the Common Council record that a committee of 

 three ' beinge sent to Maister [Samuell] Lighte- 

 foote, the Usher, by this companie, to tell him 

 of his neglecte in his place, in teachinge the 

 Schollers under his tuition etc. hee hathe vol- 

 untarily resigned upp the same place and desires 

 this companie to make choice of annother to 

 succeed him; and hee is nowe att liberty.' 49 * 

 The appointment of his successor was chronicled 

 on 



29 November l636. M Maister Wigfall. This com- 

 panie att the request of Sir Thomas Huttchinson, 

 and Maister Byron, and with the good lykinge of 

 Maister Leeke, the Schoolemaister, have accepted of 

 Maister Wiggfall a M.A., to be the Usher in the 

 roomthe and place of Maister Lightefoote, the late 

 Usher, whoe hathe verie thanckfully accepted the 

 same; and the saied Maister Wiggfall to have onely 10 

 per ann : and to have contynewance of the place and 

 payment upon his good behavior, and att the plea- 

 sure of this companie ; and Maister Wiggfall to be 

 observant to Maister Leake, the Schoolemaister, as 

 usually hath beene and ys nowe thoughte fittinge, and 

 in his absence to be reddy and diligent in the instruc- 

 cion of Maister Leak's side, as hereafter shalhi 

 occasioned ; and this Companie are content than 

 Maister Leake shall have 40^. for teachinge the usher's 

 side this last quarter, and Maister Wiggfall to have 2O/. 

 geven him for his incouragement, for thatt hee is to 

 receave nothinge before Our Lady Day nexte ; which 

 somme of 3 is to be paied them by the Schoole- 

 wardens. 



Perhaps Mr. Leake was exacting, as a new usher, 

 Mr. David Woodroffe, was admitted 23 May 

 1637 'att the mocion of Maister Leake' at 

 the same salary 'as Maister Wigfal had, . . . 

 to be and contynewe unto him upon his good 

 deservinge, and att the pleasure of this companie 

 and his entrance to be from our Lady Day 

 last.' Wa 



It is strange to find the salary of the master 

 in arrears. 



20 February 1637-8. Maister Leeke. This com- 

 panie havinge taken into consideracion the demaunds 

 of Maister Leeke, the Schoolemaister, touchinge the 

 31 3/. 4</. arreres due from Maister Hopkyn, late 

 Schoolewarden, for Mr. Leeke's annuall allowance for 

 teachinge Schoole, and havinge referred himselfe and 

 the same busines to the order of this Companie, ytt 

 is ordered thatt Maister Leeke shall onely receave 30 

 and abate the odd monie, and the same ^30 to be 

 paied him by 3 6s. 8</. yearely att Michaelis by the 

 Schoolewardens then in beinge ; and yf Maister 

 Leeke shall dye or leave the Schoole, before the saied 

 30 be fully paied, yett the same anuall payment to 

 be contynewed to him, his executors and administra- 

 tors, notwithstandinge such death or removeall of the 

 saied Maister Leeke ; and to this agreament Maister 

 Leeke hathe assented by wittnessing the same under 

 his hand. 

 49a Ibid. 175-6. K Ibid, v, 179. Ibid, 182-3. 



229 



